New Year's Eve party to aid Napa family

The Napa Police Department is inviting the public to a New Year's Eve bash to raise money for one of its own.

Officer Tom Helfrich's wife Wendy was taken ill Feb. 24. Her heart spotted beating for 28 minutes, leaving her with serious brain damage. She needs 24-hour care and numerous rehabilitation and therapy sessions. The couple has three young children. Although Wendy has a caregiver four days a week, Tom, along with family members juggle their schedules to take care of Wendy.

The expenses to care for Wendy are continually mounting.

That's where Napa residents come in.

A New Year's Eve party fundraiser for Wendy will be held at Silverado Resort on Atlas Peak Road. The festivities will kick off with a no-host cocktail hour at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and raffle. The evening will culminate with dancing to Souza Sounds and a midnight toast to ring in 2006.

The cost is $75 per person, which includes dinner, wine, hors d'oeuvres and a champagne midnight toast.

Checks, which will not be cashed until Friday, should be made payable to Susana Aguilera, c/o Napa Police Department, 1539 First St., Napa 94559.

Information is available by call Aguilera, 257-9620 or Imelda Preciado, 257-9202./Register